A group of university professors, cultural and public figures from BiH emphasized in a letter for Pope Francis, who will visit BiH in June this year, that BiH is proud of its ethnic and religious diversity.
Namely, they state in the letter that a sentence that the Catholic press agency reported on the occasion of His visit to BiH “His Holiness will also visit a state marked with great ethnic and religious difference, which were a key factor in recent war’’ was problematic for them.
‘’We believe this sentence is not true. This great ethnic and religious diversity is actually something we are proud of and we find it a great advantage and wealth for our state and society. We would not live in accordance with our identity if there was not room for others to be in it,’’ they stated in the letter.
They noted that even though that diversity includes conflicts, suffering and forced migrations, they believe that BiH multiethnic and multi-religious identity is actually our natural state, adding that BiH is part of Europe where Muslims, Christians (Catholics and Orthodox), Jews and many others have lived together for centuries.
They emphasized they want to continue building BiH society on strong foundations of common cultural code, ethics and moral, educate people, promote peace and reconciliation and work on justice and reconstruction of tragically ripped fabric of society.
‘’We feel empowered by the fact that Your Holiness has offered assistance in that process. BiH needs all the help it can get in a slow process of rebuilding trust among its ethnic groups,’’ it is stated in a letter sent to Pope.
The letter was is signed by Aleksandar Brezar, translator, journalist, writer; Aleksandar Hemon, writer; Brano Jakubović and Vedran Mujagić, members of ‘’Dubioza Kolektiv“; Alen Voloder, programmer; Damir Arsenijević, professor at De Montfort University and University in Tuzla; Dino Abazović, professor, sociologist; Franjo Šarčević, mathematician, activist; Gorana Mlinarević, attorney for international human rights; Ines Tanović Sijerčić, activist, art historian; Jasmila Žbanić, film director; Kumjana Novakova, human rights film festival ‘’Pravo ljudski“; Nidžara Ahmetašević, journalist; Refik Hodžić, journalist, activist; Sabina Šabić, peace activist, producer; Saida Mustajbegović, sociologist, journalist; Saša Stanišić, writer; Ulvija Tanović, translator; Zoran Herceg, artist, activist and Zoran Ivančić, peace activist.
(Source: Fena)
